Banjo



Patented Feb. 27, 1923.

UNITED STATES CARL E. TRIBULL, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

BANJO.

Application filed March 15, 1922. Serial No. 543,814.

T 0 all wlw/m t may concern.'

Be it known that I. CARL Tuin-ULL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland. have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Banjos; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such will enable others skilled; inthe art to which it appertains to make and use the saine.

My invention relates to banjos.

Among the objects of my invention are To provide a banjo having improved means for keeping the head thereof taut.

To provide improved means for securing the tail piece. y

To provide an improved mechanism for the head.

To provide a sound reflector for directing towards the audience the sound vibrations with which theordinary banjo are directed towards the body of the performer and weakened by contact with his garments.

These and other objects of my invention will become apparent in the following'specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a portion of a banjo constructed according to my invention.

Fig. 2 is a partial section along the line .2-2 in Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows. j

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section along the line 3-3 in Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

F ig, 4 is an enlarged section along the line 4-4 in Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of a portion oi the mechanism shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged section along the line 6 6y in Fig.` 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

In constructing a banjo according to my invention, I use the usual strings 10, neck 11 and bridge 12. The neck 11 is provided. with the stock 13 which passes through a hole in the lug 14 which is formed integrally with the ring 15 and extends diametrically across the ring 15 to the inner surface of the lug 16 Which is also formed integrally with said ring. The end of the stock 13 is held inv place against the lug 16 by the screws 17-17.

The ring 15 is provided with n plurality tightening of radially disposed ribs 18 extending from -the inner surface thereof and having their inner ends joined together by the ring 19.

.Posts such as 20 are mounted upon the ribs 18 and the upper ends of said posts are grooved as at 2l for the reception of the stretching ring 22.y I haveshown the posts as having their lower ends reduced and mounted in holes provided in the ribs 18 but they may be secured thereto in any approved manner.

The head 23 is formed of skin in the usual manner, is stretched over the ring 22 and is provided with a flange 24.

The flange 24 may be formed in any approved manner and the tightening ring 25 is pressed against said flange by the tightening screws 26 when the tightening nuts 27 are set up. The screws 26 extend through holes provided in the ribs 18 and the nuts 27 abut on the lower sides of said ribs. The upper ends of the screws 26 are bent over and riveted to the ring 25 as at 28 or they may be secured thereto or abut thereupon in any approved manner.

The tail piece 29 is provided with a hook shaped end 30 which engages the flange 24 and the other end 31 of said piece is to be located below the top of the bridge 12 in about the relation shown in Fig. 2. The end 31 is located as shown in order to provide for sufficient angular depression of the strings 1() to the left of the bridge 12 to produce the proper ressure of said bridge upon the head 23. T e strings l0 pass through holes in the tail piece near the end 31 as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, then along said tail piece and are secured to pins 32 adjacent the flange 24. The casing 33 extends from the side of the neck 11 completely around the ring l5 and the lower edge of said casing extends somewhat below said ring as shown in Fig. 2. The casing is secured to the rin 15 by screws such as 34.

he reflector 35 is preferably made concave toward the head 23 and is shaped to fit against the lower edge of the casing 33.

I have stated that the reflector 34 is made concave toward the head 23, but unless otherwise stated, I do not desire to be limited to such a shape. for numerous variations may be made in the shape of the reflector 35 in order to obtainvariations in its effect.

In order to removably secure. the reflector 35 to the banjo, a suitable number of holding springs such as 36 are secured to the refleetor 35 and said springs are provided with a curved portion 3T located to engage the curved inner surface ot' the ring l5 as shown in Fig. 6.

The manner ot use of my improved banjo is as follows The strings l() are to be applied to the usual pegs not shown, and secured to the tail piece 29 as shown.

The reflector 35 can be removed 'trein the banjo by` simply pulling` it outwardly therefrom, and then the nuts 27 can be adjusted until the head 23 is at the proper tension. The reflector 35 can then be restored to the position shown by pushing it inwardly.

Willen the banjo is played, the sound Waves developed in the air by the head 23 iinpinge upon the inner surface et the reflector 35 and are reflected outwardly through the opening between the. ring and the casing 35.

Thus the sound Waves that usually iinpinge upon the garments ot the player and are thus greatly 'weakened or lost are reflected toward the audience and a great ini provenient in the tone oi" the banjo results.

Furthermore, it is to be noted that the reflector 35 can be instantly removed to provide for the change ozt tension upon the head 23 and instantly restored.

l/Vhile l have shown one embodiment ot my invention, it is. to be understood that it is for illustrative purposes only and in no- Wise t0 limit the invention to the exactconstruction shown, for many changes may be made therein Without departing from the spirit of myl invention.

l elaiinz-` Y Latex/ee 1. '.llhe combination with a neck, o'l a ring secured to said neck, a stretching ring supportei by said iirst named ring, a head supported by said stretching ring and provided with a flange, a tightening ring :tor stretching said head, a tail piece having a hooked end embracing said flange and tightening ring and strings secured at one end to said neck and at the other end to said tail piece.

2. rllhe combination with a neck, 0I" a ring secured to said neck, a stretching ring sup ported by said iirst named ring, a head supported by said stretching ring and provided with a flange, a tightening ring for stretching said head, a tail piece engaging said flange and tightening ring, pins on said tail piece adjacent said tiav strings secured at one end to said neek and at the other end to said pins.

3. lhe combination With a neck, of ring secured to said neck, a stretching rino supported by said first named ring, a head supported by said stretching ring and provided with a iiange, a tightening ring for stretching said head, a tail piece engaging said flange and tightening ring, bridge on said head, a tail piece having one end engaging said fla-nge and tightening ring and its other end provided With holes and disposed below the top ot said bridge, pins on said tail piece and strings secured at one end to said neck, threaded through said holes and at the other end secured to said pins.

in testimony whereof, l aiiii; my signature.

CARL E. TRIBULL. 

